Pellegrini never doubted Jovetic

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is delighted to see striker Stevan Jovetic make the most of his fresh start at the club.

The Montenegro international endured a miserable maiden campaign dogged by injury and illness, but after a full preseason he is firing on all cylinders again and scored twice in the 3-1 win over Liverpool.

He has seized the opportunity presented by injuries to Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero, who scored City's third before Liverpool's Rickie Lambert forced Pablo Zabaleta into a late own goal.

Asked whether the striker had finally started to deliver Pellegrini said: "Yes and not only on his goals.

"He was working the whole game, without the ball too. He was very unlucky last season but we never had any doubt about this quality. To start the season in this way after an unlucky new season is good but I don't think it is like a new signing."

Pellegrini said his side need four strikers and are anticipating the return of Negredo, but addded that Edin Dzeko, Jovetic and Aguero are working well together in the meantime.

Stevan Jovetic helped Manchester City past Liverpool with two goals in a 3-1 win.

Last season Liverpool ran City a very close second in a nail-biting title race which went down to the final week of the season However, the way in which Pellegrini's side clinically dispatched their opponents suggested the gap may be wider this time around.

"For me these are games of six points - especially when you play at home," he added, alluding to the importance of playing against potential Premier League title rivals.

"Liverpool are an important team and one that will be fighting for the title. We have had a hard start to the season so it is important for us to win the second game."

Liverpool failed to make the most of having the better of the opening 35 minutes. Now the hope must be new 16 million-pound signing Mario Balotelli -- who watched from the directors' box after finalising his move from AC Milan -- will give them an extra spark up front.

"I think that in the market to get someone in at that quality, the deal for us was very good," said manager Brendan Rodgers, who is not worried about the Italian's reputation for getting into trouble on and off the pitch. "He is a world-class talent and it is an area we need to strengthen."

Rodgers has spent about 115 million pounds this summer, much of which came from the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, but he knows that will count for nothing if they cannot turn it into points on the pitch.

"The goals we're disappointed with of course,'' he added on the game. "If you buy players it doesn't guarantee you anything. You can spend as much money as you want but it doesn't guarantee you anything. I'm only confident that they are going to get better."